Drum lifter



Nov. 24, 1964 Filed April 24, 1962 W. R. HART DRUM LIFTER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1964 Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. R. HART 3,158,275

DRUM LIFTER W. R. HART DRUM LIFTER Nov. 24, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 24, 1962 W. R. HART DRUM LIFTER Nov. 24, 1964 Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent C 3,158,275 ERUM LIFTER Walter R. Hmt, 33 5th Ave, Port Washington, N.Y. Filed Apr. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 189,793 13 Claims. (5C1. 214-=555) This invention relates to apparatus for handling (lifting, moving and stacking) drums and barrels singly and in pairs, threes and fours at a time.

Heavy drums and barrels are dangerous and difficult to handle. They carry the highest casualty rates and cause the greatest number of crippling accidents.

It is the primary purpose and object of the invention to provide apparatus for safely handling heavy drums.

A further object of the invention is to provide moving means for assembling drums in groups of any desired number up to four.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gripping device for safely and securely gripping a drum or drums in upright positions with a force that increases proportionally to the weight supported so that it is practically impossible for a drum once gripped to be released until its weight is no longer supported by the gripping device in whole or part. Only then a means for releasing the gripping device can be operated successfully to release the drum or drums.

It is a feature of the invention that a gripping device for each drum is provided, although a single grip will sufiice to support as many as four drums when the drums are banded together.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means for automatically orienting the gripping device with respect to the drums.

Another feature of the invention provides means for automatically gripping the respective rims of drums when the gripping device has been oriented thereover.

Still another feature of the invention is means for releasing the gripping device that is operable only when the weight supported by the device is removed.

Other purposes, objects and features of the invention and a more complete understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, is a side view of a gripping device of the invention showing a pair of grips suspended from an equalizing spreader and rotated 45 degrees from normal position to obtain a full side view of the grips, and showing a gripping device extended and gripping a drum rim, and the other retracted with jaws open, and showing a centrally mounted solenoid grip release;

FIG. 2, is a side elevation of a grip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, is a plan view of FIG. 1 plus a manually operated linkage for releasing the gripping devices;

FIG. 4, is similar to FIG. 1 showing a vacuum operated gripping device release;

FIG. 5, is a plan view of four drums banded together and with the invention positioned for gripping the drums;

FIG. 6, is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along section line VIVI of FIG. 5 showing means for automatically orienting the invention with respect to banded drums;

FlG. 7, is similar to FIG. 1 showing a fluid operated gripping device release;

FIG. 8, is a side view or" a gripping device in a closed position showing a bellows arrangement for individually opening and closing the gripping device;

FIG. 9, is similar to FIG. 8 and showing the gripping device in an open position;

FIG. 10, is a plan view in perspective of another species of an equalizing spreader;

$358,275 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 FIG. ll, is a perspective view of a new combination including the gripping device of FIG. 1, a drum assembly device and a lift truck;

FIG. 12, is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of the push bar apparatus of FIG. 11 shown with side arms in an open position and top cover removed;

FIG. 13, is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14-, is a view similar to FIG. 13 but with side arms in a closed position;

FIG. 15, is an end view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13, and

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11 in operation for assembling drums for pickup.

Referring to FIG. 1 a gripping device 9 of the invention comprises a horizontally arranged support member or equalizing spreader 10, shown in the form at a flat plate which is square in plan View as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A suspension hook 12 is swivelly attached in the center or" the support member and extends upward for engagement by a crane or other lifting apparatus that is shown, for example in FIG. 11. Gripping devices of loosely connected pantograph linkages 14 are secured to each of the corners of the support member 10 and extend downward therefrom. Each linkage 14 is arranged to terminate in two legs 16 and 18 of unequal length that are rigidly oriented in a plane connecting the mounting corner with the diagonally opposite corner of the support member 16.

As shown in FIG. 1 the linkages 14 have been rotated about 45 degrees about their respective longitudinal axes in opposite directions from their normal positions to show full side views. The pair of legs 16 and 18 of each linkage 14 terminates in jaws 2t and 22 that close when the pantograph linkage is extended and open when retracted. The shorter leg 16 is broadened laterally at its free end to form the inwardly directed (with respect to legs 16 and 18) jaw 21). The free end is sloped just a trifle upward and inward to slideably cam it over the rim 2.6 to engage the inner surface thereof and to engage the top of a drum 24 (partially shown) as illustrated in limiting further downward motion of the grip. The longer leg 18 is also broadened at the free end to form jaw 22 with a steeply sloping upward and inward end. The free end is thus slanted with respect to its longitu dinal axis and adapted to contact the rim of a drum to be carnmed outwardly to open the jaws and to engage under the rolled rim 2.6. The jaws are held slightly open by a limiting pin 39 mounted on leg 16 and adapted to engage leg 18 before jaw 20 engages it. The two jaws of each linkage are displaced vertically from each other by virtue of the unequal leg lengths to respectively engage under the rim 26 and the inner surface thereof.

The pantograph linkage, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, are respectively secured bysingle suspension studs 28 mounted in support member 19. A double suspension link S il is pivoted to each stud Z3. Pantograph links 32 and 3 1 are single links and links 36 and 38 are double. Leg 16 which is part or" link 34 is also single and leg 18 which is part of link 34 is also double. The single links are pivoted at their respective ends to and between the double links. The increased size of the free ends of the pantograph linkages and loose interconnecting pivoting of each linkage causes the linkages to extend by their own weight and thereby close their jaws.

A variety of means having just enough power for retracting the pantograph linkages when extended by their own weight alone is mounted on the underside of support member 119 and under the suspension hook 12. In FIG. 1 a solenoid 40, preferably of the type in which linear solenoid movement is translated to a more extended rotary motion (for example the type known commercially as Ledex) is shown electrically connected via insulated stud 42 and ground 44 on the suspension hook 12 to an outside power cable 46. The rotatable element 48 of the solenoid 40 is connected by flexible cable 49 to the lowest pivot 50 of the pantograph linkages 14. Electrical actuation of the solenoid will simultaneously retract the linkages 14 to open their jaws. For purposes only of showing linkages with both opened and a closed jaw, FIG. 1 is so drawn, however it should be understood that all the grips are operably connected to open and close together.

Referring to FIG. 3 another means for retracting the pantograph linkages of the invention is illustrated in which oppositely disposed levers 52 are arranged to cross normal to each other and are pivoted together on the upper surface of the support member 10 are simultaneous rotation about their common pivot 53. The lever 52 extend be yond the perimeter of the support member 10 and are respectively connected by guided flexible cables 54 to respective pantograph linkages 14 for retracting the pantograph linkages by manual rotation of the levers in a counterclockwise direction.

Referring to FIG. 4 which illustrated still another means for retracting the pantograph linkages of the invention, a vacuum operated bellows 56 is mounted in place of the rotary solenoid of FIG. 1, and the suspension hook 12 includes a vacuum connection 58 for attaching to an outside vacuum line (not shown). A lankage 66 connects the gellows 56 to the lower pantograph linkages pivots 50 and is adapted when a vacuum is applied to the bellows to retract the pantograph linkages 14 and thereby open their respective jaws.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 means are shown for orienting the gripping device of the invention with respect to four drums 62, preferably banded together by a band 64 as illustrated, but not necessarily so. The orienting framework 66 is formed by bending each of two strips of suitable material upward and outward from respective center portions 65 and then upward and inward to form open topped hexagonal shaped frames. The respective center sections are pivoted together and the free ends of each of the bent strips are secured to the middle of the opposite sides of the support member so that the strips cross and extend in planes normal to each other. The orienting framework 66 passes outwardly and under the pantograph linkages 14 as partially shown in FIG. 6 and as the invention is lowered approximately in place as shown in FIG. 5 the framework contacts the edges of the drums and follows them to interstices therebetween and thereby swivelling the support member 10 around the suspension hook 12 to bring the pantograph linkages secured to the corners of the support member 10 over the nearest edges of the drums as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 7 still another means for retracting the pantograph linkages of the invention is illustrated wherein a fluid pressure cylinder 67 is slidably mounted on a stationary piston 68 which is mounted on the support member 10 in place of the rotary solenoid of FIG. 1. The suspension hook 12 is screwed on a threaded member 70 that is integral with the piston 68 and extends upward through the support member 14). A pressure fluid fitting 69 for attaching an outside pressure fluid line (not shown) is attached to the end of the threaded member 70. A pressure conduit leads from the fitting 69 through the piston 68 to the bottom of the cylinder 67 to slide the cylinder downward against the bias of a spring 71 and operate linkages 72 connecting the cylinder flange 72 to the lower pivots 50 of the pantograph linkages 14 and thereby retract ng the pantograph linkages 14 to open their jaws and 22 when a pressure fluid is applied to the pressure fitting 69.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 individual means for retracting a single pantograph linkage is shown in which a bellows 56a is transversely mounted between the pantograph upper links 32a and 36a. The bellows are made of elastic material connected with an outside source of pressure fluid controllable by a loading operator. When it is desired to release the jaws of the gripping device, pressure fluid is admitted to the bellows 56a and expands it to open the jaws as shown in FIG. 8. The material reretracting resiliency of the bellows material and the weight of the pantograph linkage closes the jaws of the gripping device when the pressure fluid is cut off.

Referring to FIG. 10 an alternative support member or equalizing spacer 74 is shown. Two bars 76 are horizontally pivoted at their respective midpoints on pivot members '77 coaxially mounted on diametrically opposite sides of a flat plate 78 on which a suspension book 80 is swivelly mounted. The end portions 82 of the bars 76 are pierced for mounting depending pantograph linkages 14. The pivotally mounted bars 76 allow the invention to be used with drums that are substantially displaced vertically rela tive toeach other because of very uneven ground or other such causes. The support member 10 is restricted in use to drums that are vertically displaced by not more than some two inches relative to each other.

In theoperation of the invention the assembly of novel gripping devices of the invention is attached by a suspension hook to any hoisting apparatus (for example as illustrated in FIG. 11) and the appropriate outside power for actuating the type of releasing means connected to fittings as is adjacent to the suspension book. The assembly of gripping devices is then lowered over the space defined between an assembly of drums that are preferably banded together. The orienting framework contacts the drum rims and swivels the fiat member around its suspension hook to position the respective pantograph linkages and their depending jaws over the rims of the respective drums. Further lowering brings the jaws into contact with the rims, and the slanted ends of the long legs cam the respective gripping devices into position for the short legs to contact the respective drum tops and engage the inner surfaces, then the long jaws engage under the respective outside rims of the drums both jaws being locked on the respective drum rims by the action of the pantograph linkages when a lifting force is applied. The force applied in locking the jaws on the respective rims increases in direct proportion to the lifting force required to lift the drum and thus prevents any release of the drums due to picking up loads of varying weights. Releasing means, for releasing the jaws when the drums are not supported thereby, retract the pantograph linkages with a force only slightly greater than the downward force exerted by the weight of the linkages. The release is, therefore, inefiective as long as even an empty drum is supported by the aws.

Referring to FIG. 11 an assembly of gripping devices 14 of the invention is illustrated in combination with a lift truck to which a drum assembling device 92 is attached for assembling and grouping any number of drums up to four for gripping by the gripping devices.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 the drum assembling device 92 comprises a push bar 93 and two side arms 94 fastened to and angularly and slidably adjustable on the push bar 92. The side arms 94 are supported on the push bar by end braces 96 pivoted by their respective ends to the push bar and the respective associated side arms. The side arms each comprise a short leg 98 and a long leg 9 that are formed approximately normal to each other. Each side arm is slidably pinned at the junction ltlll of the legs in respective parallel slots 192 and 104 extending longitudinally in the push bar 93 with the long leg extending outwardly and the short leg extending inwardly toward the lift truck 90. The free ends of the short legs 5 8 are respectively secured to oppositely moving runs of a drive chain 106 drivably mounted on two pulleys 1418 longitudinally spaced apart on the push bar 93. One of the pulleys 108 is rigidly and concentrically attached to a driven pulley 110 which is driven from a drive motor 111 and pulley 112 by means of a connecting drive chain 114. Thus by means of the motor the long legs 99 of the side arms 94 can be closed against the push bar 93 as shown in FIG. 14 or can be opened and angularly adjusted relative to each other and the push bar. The slidably pinned junctions 100 are also movable linearly in their respective slots 102 and 104. By means of this device, the lift truck picks up and assembles drums in cloverleaf arrangement as shown in FIG. 16 that is suitable for cooperating with the orienting framework and the assembly of gripping devices. When assembled, the drums can be banded as shown in FIG. 5, in which case an additional safety factor is obtained because any one of the four gripping devices is capable of supporting all four drums and thus it would be necessary for all four gripping devices to fail before any of the load could fall.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Drum gripping device for gripping a plurality of drums having outwardly rolled beaded rims and used with lifting apparatus, said drum gripping device comprising: an equalizing support member having oppositely disposed surfaces; a suspension hook swivelly secured to said support member in the center of one said oppositely disposed surface; grip means equally spaced apart and secured to said support member adjacent the periphery of the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces, each of said grip means comprising a loosely connected pantograph linkage and terminating in jaws automatically closed by their own weight and adapted to unreleasably engage the rim of a drum when said drum is supported by said drum lifting device, the force closing said jaws being directly proportional to the supported weight; orienting means attached to said support member intermediate said peripherally spaced grip means and extending therebeyond for contacting the rims of adjacent drums to slide therebetween and thereby rotate said support member around said swivelled suspension hook to bring said grip means over said drum rims for automatic engagement of said jaws therewith; and jaw releasing means centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of.

said support member and pivotally connected with said grip means and operable for holding open said jaws when said drums are otherwise supported whereby said grip means is released from said otherwise supported drums and the device can be raised for moving to engage a new load.

2. Drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said rim-engaging jaws comprise two legs of unequal length, the longer leg having an end slanted with respect to said legs longitudinal axis for slipping over the outside of a drum rim and said slanted end having a point directed to engage under the band of said rim, and the shorter of said legs having a substantially transverse end with respect to its longitudinal axis for contacting the top of a drum to open the jaws, and said transverse end having an edge directed to engage the inside of said rim when said device is raised.

3. A drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said jaw releasing means comprises: a vacuum operable bellows centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of the support member; linkage means pivotally connecting said bellows to said grip means and operable by said bellows to open the jaws.

4. A drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said jaw releasing means comprises: an electrically operable solenoid centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of the support member; flexible cables connecting said solenoid to said grip means and operable by said solenoid to open said jaws.

5. A drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said jaw releasing means comprises: a cylinder centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of the support member; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and operable by pressure fluid; linkage means movable by said piston and pivotally secured to said grip means and operable by said piston to open said aws.

6. A drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said jaw releasing means comprises: hand operable linkage means mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of the support member and pivotally connected to said grip means and operable to open said jaws.

7. A drum gripping device as described in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises: two similar frame elements, each said element comprising a linear member bent to define an open topped hexagonal figure having free ends and lying wholly in one plane, said elements being arranged with their respective planes normal and fastened by their free ends to the periphery of said support member intermediate said grip means.

8. Drum gripping device for gripping a drum having an outwardly rolled beaded rim and used with a lifting apparatus, said drum gripping device comprising: a sup porting plate member having oppositely disposed surfaces; a suspension hook swivelly secured to said plate member in the center of one said oppositely disposed surfaces; grip means secured to said plate member on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces, said grip means terminating in automatically closing jaws adapted to unreleasably engage the rim of said drum when said drum is supported by said grip means; and operable jaw releasing means centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of said plate member and operatively connected with said grip means for holding open said jaws when said drum is not supported thereby, whereby said grip means is released from said drum when the device is raised for moving to engage a new load.

9. Drum gripping device for gripping a plurality of drums having beaded rims and used with lifting apparatus, said drum gripping device comprising: an equalizing spreader having oppositely disposed surfaces; a suspension means swivelly secured to said equalizing spreader in the center of one said oppositely disposed surface; grip means equally spaced apart and secured to said equalizing spreader adjacent the periphery of the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces, each of said grip means terminating in automatically closing jaws adapted to unreleasably engage the rim of a drum when said drum is supported by said grip means; orienting means attached to the periphery of said equalizing spreader and intermediate said peripherally spaced grip means and extending therebeyond for contacting the rims of adjacent drums to slide therebetween and thereby rotating said plate around said swivelled suspension hook to bring said grip means over said drum rims for the automatic engagement of said jaws therewith; and jaw releasing means centrally mounted on the other of said oppositely disposed surfaces of said equalizing spreader, said jaw releasing means connected with said grip means and operable for holding open said jaws when said drums are not supported by said jaws, whereby said grip means can be released from said drums :vhgn the device is raised for moving to engage a new 10. Drum handling apparatus comprising in combination: a lift truck having a lifting element positioned thereon higher than said drums extend vertically; gripping means for gripping the upper edge of a vertically standing drum secured to said lifting element; an orienting means fastened to said gripping means for orienting said gripping means with respect to said drums, a pushing means secured to said lift truck below said lifting element for engaging a vertically standing drum below its midpoint, said pushing means comprising a push bar extending transverse said truck and normal to the direction of truck travel, two similar side arms secured to the push bar and extending outwardly therefrom, said side arms being angularly adjustable to said bar and to each other, whereby a drum is engaged in the angle between said arms and the push bar, another drum between the first drum and one side arm, a third drum between the first drum and the other side arm, and a last drum between the two preceding drums, the centers of any plurality of drums defining lines parallel to one of said arms and normal to the other of said arms, whereby a plurality of drums are collected and arranged to cooperate with said orienting means for gripping by said gripping means and lifting by said lifting means.

11. Drum gripping device for gripping and lifting simultaneously four drums having outwardly rolled beaded rims comprising an equalizing support member, central suspension means for suspending said support memher from lifting apparatus, four grip means carried by said support member and equally spaced apart and equally spaced from said suspension means, each of said grip means comprising a loosely connected pantograph linkage and terminating in jaws automatically closed by their own weight and adapted unreleasably to engage the rim of a drum when said drum is supported by said grip means, the force closing said jaws being directly proportional to the supported weight, orienting means attached to said support member intermediate said grip means and extending downwardly to engage the rims of adjacent drums to slide therebetween and orient said support member around said suspension means when said gripping device is lowered, to bring said four grip means into position to grip four adjacent drums, and jaw releasing means operably connected to said grip means to open said jaws when said drums are otherwise supported, whereby said grip means is released from said drums.

12. Drum gripping device according to claim 11, in which each of said grip means includes two jaws engaging said drum externally under said rim and an intermediate jaw engaging the inside of said rim between said two jaws.

13. Drum gripping device according to claim 12, in which said jaws are pivotally connected together and are connected to said support member by link forming with said jaws said pantograph linkage.

References Cited by the Examiner .UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,299 l/58 Crary 5348X 3,023,554 3/62 Hlavacek 53-l98X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner. 

1. DRUM GRIPPING DEVICE FOR GRIPPING A PLURALITY OF DRUMS HAVING OUTWARDLY ROLLED BEADED RIMS AND USED WITH LIFTING APPARATUS, SAID DRUM GRIPPING DEVICE COMPRISING: AN EQUALIZING SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SURFACES; A SUSPENSION HOOK SWIVELLY SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE CENTER OF ONE SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SURFACE; GRIP MEANS EQUALLY SPACED APART AND SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SURFACES, EACH OF SAID GRIP MEANS COMPRISING A LOOSELY CONNECTED PANTOGRAPH LINKAGE AND TERMINATING IN JAWS AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED BY THEIR OWN WEIGHT AND ADAPTED TO UNRELEASABLY ENGAGE THE RIM OF A DRUM WHEN SAID DRUM IS SUPPORTED BY SAID DRUM LIFTING DEVICE, THE FORCE CLOSING SAID JAWS BEING DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE SUPPORTED WEIGHT; ORIENTING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID PERIPHERALLY SPACED GRIP MEANS AND EXTENDING THEREBEYOND FOR CONTACTING THE RIMS OF ADJACENT DRUMS TO SLIDE THEREBETWEEN AND THEREBY ROTATE SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AROUND SAID SWIVELLED SUSPENSION HOOK TO BRING SAID GRIP MEANS OVER SAID DRUM RIMS FOR AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT OF SAID JAWS THEREWITH; AND JAW RELEASING MEANS CENTRALLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SURFACES OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID GRIP MEANS AND OPERABLE FOR HOLDING OPEN SAID JAWS WHEN SAID DRUMS ARE OTHERWISE SUPPORTED WHEREBY SAID GRIP MEANS IS RELEASED FROM SAID OTHERWISE SUPPORTED DRUMS AND THE DEVICE CAN BE RAISED FOR MOVING TO ENGAGE A NEW LOAD. 